Attachment of belt buckles to belts

ABSTRACT

A belt buckle having an offset bar and an inside hook for engaging one of a series of spaced holes in the free end of a belt, is attached to the fixed end of the belt, which has a series of spaced slots, by a clip which has a land engageable with the inside of the bar, which encircles the fixed end of the belt. The clip also has a leg which abuts the bar and extends through a selected slot, with a forward tab on the inner end of the leg, to restrain the leg from pulling through the slot. Between this land and a rear leg, having a rearward tab and extends through the second slot from the selected slot, are a longer land for holding a loop for the free end of the belt, a valley which presses against the inside of the fixed end of the belt and inclined legs connecting the valley with the respective lands. Through the use of the clip, one length of belt stock may be utilized for several sizes of belts, merely by adjusting the clip to different slots.

United States Patent Foy [541 ATTACHMENT OF BELT BUCKLES TO BELTS [72] Inventor: George P. Foy, 635 S. Clinton St.

Apt. B-l, Denver, Colo. 80231 [22] Filed: March 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 123,558

[52] US. Cl. ..2/325, 24/70, 24/73,

24/206 [51] Int. Cl. ..A4lf 9/02 [58] Field of Search ..24/81B,259,73 B,70 R,

70 ST, 24/206 R 206 B; 2/322, 325, 336\338,3ll,3l9

1451 Aug. 22, 1972 3,438,063 4/1969 Lolston ..2/322 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerG. V. Larkin AttorneyVan Valkenburgh & Lowe 5 7 ABSTRACT A belt buckle having an offset bar and an inside hook for engaging one of a series of spaced holes in the free end of a belt, is attached to the fixed end of the belt, which has a series of spaced slots, by a clip which has a land engageable with the inside of the bar, which encircles the fixed end of the belt. The clip also has a leg which abuts the bar and extends through a selected slot, with a forward tab on the inner end of the leg, to restrain the leg from pulling through the slot. Between this land and a rear leg, having a rearward tab and extends through the second slot from the selected slot, are a longer land for holding a loop for the free end of the belt, a valley which presses against the inside of the fixed end of the belt and inclined legs connecting the valley with the respective lands. Through the use of the clip, one length of belt stock may be utilized for several sizes of belts, merely by adjusting the clip to different slots.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures ATTACHMENT OF BELT BUCKLES TO BELTS This invention relates to the attachment of belt buckles to belts, and more particularly to a novel clip therefor and the combination thereof with a belt buckle and belt.

Conventionally, belt buckles have been attached to belts by folding under a portion of the fixed end of the belt and attaching the same to the end of the belt by a pair of snap fasteners, between which is held a loop for the free end of the belt, with the belt buckle extending between the two portions of the belt thus produced at the fold. However, this requires that the portion of the fixed end of the belt, at the fold, be skived or cut away, to preclude an abnormal thickness at the fold, although the two thicknesses of the fixed end of the belt tends to produce an outside bulge or tilting of the buckle, away from the body of the user. In a prior type of belt buckle having a center bar on which is pivoted a tongue adapted for engagement with one of a series of holes in the free end of the belt, the bar extends transversely through the belt at the fold, while the tongue extends through a slot at the fold. For attachment of another form of belt buckle having a bar at each end and an inwardly extending hook on the front bar, which hook extends inwardly through a selected hole in the free end of the belt, the rear bar extends between the two portions of the belt at the fold. However, this does not eliminate the necessity for skiving at the hole, nor the necessity for attaching the snaps to the fixed end of the belt at spaced distances from each side of the skived portions. In the case of a so-called Western style of belt buckle, which consists essentially of a flat plate having a depending hook at one end, for engagement with a selected hole in the free end of the belt, an offset bar is attached to the opposite end of the plate, on the inside. This offset bar extends between the two portions of the fixed end of the belt, at the fold. Again, this construction does not eliminate the necessity for skiving at the position of the fold, or the expense of the snaps which hold the two portions of the fixed end of the belt together on opposite sides of the loop for the free end of the belt.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a novel clip for attaching a buckle to a belt which eliminates the necessity for a fold in the fixed end of the belt; to provide such a clip which, in combination with a buckle and belt, permits a number of belt sizes to be produced by a single length of belt stock; to provide such a clip, as well as such a clip in combination with a belt and buckle, which eliminates the bulge or tilting of the buckle, due to the fold in the fixed end of the belt; to provide such a clip which is readily manufactured and which may be used in association with different types of belt buckles; and to provide such a clip and such a combination of the novel clip and the buckle and belt which is effective and efiicient in use.

In accordance with the present invention, the necessity for skiving is eliminated, since the fixed end of the belt merely extends in a straight position beneath the buckle, and a novel clip constructed in accordance with this invention is utilized, not only to attach the bar of the buckle to the fixed end of the belt, but also to hold the loop in position and attach the same to the fixed end of the belt. One advantage of the novel clip of this invention is that the number of belt sizes required to be maintained in stock, as by a retailer, is reduced substantially,since the clip is readily adjusted along the fixed end of the belt, to provide a series of sizes, such as four or five, which may be produced by one length of belt stock. Another advantage is that the outside bulge or tilt of the buckle away from the body of the user, normal in belts having a fold, is eliminated.

The foregoing objects and advantages, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a Western style belt and buckle provided with a clip, in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing the buckle and clip and a portion of the belt of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation, on a further enlarged scale, showing the buckle and clip and a portion of the belt of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view, partially broken away in section, and on a still further enlarged scale, showing particularly the clip and portions of the buckle and the attached and free ends of the belt;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation, on a still further enlarged scale, of an alternative embodiment of the clip;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation, similar to FIG. I, but showing a dress style buckle and belt;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the buckle, belt and clip of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale and taken along line 99 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary rear elevation, on a further enlarged scale, showing the buckle and clip and a portion of the belt of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a clip C is constructed in accordance with this invention and is utilized to attach a Western style buckle B to the fixed end 11 of a strip S of belt stock. Belt strip S may be formed of leather or any suitable material, such as plastic, while buckle B may be formed of metal or any other suitable material. When fastened, a free end 12 of the belt extends inside a plate 13 of the buckle and through a conventional loop 14. Bevels 15 may be provided at the extreme end of the free end 12 of the belt, as in FIG. 1, which is also provided with a series of conventional spaced holes 16, as also shown in FIG. 3, for selective engagement with a hook 17 which extends inwardly at the center of one end of plate 13, as in FIGS.

- 3 and 4. The opposite end of the buckle B is provided with an offset bar 18 which is adapted to encircle the fixed end 11 of the belt strip S, as well as to provide a space to receive the free end 12 of the belt, when the buckle is attached to the free end. Bar 18 preferably provides, with a plate 13, a rectangular space, thus having a leg 19 at each end which is attached, as by spot welding or brazing, to the inside of the buckle plate 13.

In further accordance with this invention, the fixed end 11 of the belt is provided with a series of generally centrally located, equally spaced slots 20 conveniently spacedapart a distance, as of one inch for a purpose hereinafter described, and being sufficient in number that adjustment of the clip C between a pair of slots 20, separated by a third slot 20, will enable a number of belt sizes to be produced. The clip C, as in FIGS. 5 and 6, is formed integrally from a metal strip, such as onefourth inch wide and approximately 0.050 inch in thickness, and shaped, as in a die, to the form shown. The clip C thus includes an end land 22 which, in conjunction with a perpendicular end leg 23 and a slanting leg 24, holds the buckle bar 18 in position, with the leg 23 extending through one of the slots in the free end 11 of the belt. An end tab 26, which in use is disposed on the opposite side of the free end of the belt from the bar 18, as in FIG. 3, prevents end leg 23 from being pulled out of the fixed end of the belt, while the fixed end is essentially straight. Since the pull between the free and fixed ends of the belt, during use, is in a direction to urge the bar 18 against the perpendicular leg 23, the opposed leg 24 can be inclined, such as at 45, without detracting from the ability of the clip, buckle and belt assembly to withstand the stresses imposed on the belt during use. A land 27, which may have a greater length than the land 22, overlies the loop 14 and retains the loop in position. A valley 28, intermediate the lands 22 and 27, normally engages the rear side of the fixed end of the belt and is connected to land 22 by leg 24 and to land 27 by an oppositely slanting leg 29. At the opposite end of land 27, a perpendicular leg 30 is adapted to extend through the second slot 20 from the one engaged by leg 23, as in FIG. 3, while an opposite end tab 31 engages the outside of the fixed end of the belt. As will be evident, when the spacing between the centers of slots 20 is equal to a distance of one inch, the distance between the centerlines of perpendicular legs 23 and 30 should be two inches. e.g., double the spacing between slots 20.

As will be evident, with both the buckle B and the loop 14, attached to the fixed end of the belt by the clip C, the free end 12 of the belt may be slipped between the buckle and the fixed end of the belt and through the loop, until an appropriate hole 16 is reached for engagement by the belt buckle hook 17. As will also be evident, since the fixed end 11 of the belt is flat, without any folds, it may extend an inch or two beyond the buckle B, without interfering with either the placement of the free end 12 of the belt between the buckle and the fixed end, or attachment or detachment of the buckle hook 17 to the free end of the belt. The clip C may be readily installed, as by slipping the opposite end tab 31 into the slot 20 appropriate for the size of belt to be produced, followed by the leg 30, the slanting leg 29 and a portion of the valley 28, so that the valley 28 is within the selected slot 20. Then, the loop 14 and the buckle bar 18 may be slipped onto the fixed end of the belt until each is between the clip C and the fixed end 12. The position of the valley 28 in the selected slot 20 permits the fixed end 12 of the belt to be looped around until the end tab and then the perpendicular leg 23 enter the second slot from that in which the valley 28 is then disposed. By grasping the buckle B in one hand and the belt strip S in the other hand, a pull on the clip C by the buckle bar 18 will move the valley 28 out of the selected slot 20 and against the loop 14 until the leg 30 is pulled into the desired slot and the tab 31 engages the outside of the free end of the belt. With an appropriate distance between the perpendicular legs 23 and 30, the portion of the belt between the slots 20 engaged by these legs will be stretched slightly, so as to hold the fixed end of the belt in a relatively straight position. On the inside, the slanting legs 24 and 29 produce less discomfort to the wearer, although the slanting legs 24 and 29 may be made perpendicular to the valley 28 or at any other angle desired. The width of the slots 20 may be only slightly greater than the width of the clip C, with the clearance merely being sufficient to permit the tab 26 or 33 and the perpendicular legs 23 or 30 to be readily inserted in or removed from the desired slot.

As will be further evident, the clip may be discon nectcd and reconnected in a similar manner, within a few seconds, to change the effective length of the belt. Thus, instead of a retailer carrying 2l different belt sizes, as from belt size 25 through belt size 45, with the clip and belt and buckle of this invention, the number of sizes required to be maintained in stock may be reduced to three. These sizes include a small size, with an appropriate length of the belt strip S and a sufficient number of slots 20 to accommodate belt size 25 through belt size 31; a medium size, with the holes 20 providing belt lengths from belt size 32 to belt size 38; and a large size, with holes 20 accommodating a belt length from belt size 39 through belt size 45. Of course, with a series of holes 16 in the free end of the belt, such as six in number, the small, medium and large sizes, as described above, will tend to overlap in fitting the purchaser.

In the alternative clip C of FIG. 6, which may be substituted for the clip C, legs 24 and 29, connected to lands 22 and 27, respectively, extend perpendicularly to the lands and to valley 28, which is thereby shortened. Land 27 may have the same length as before or may be shortened to accommodate a narrower loop 14. Legs 23 and 30, as well as tabs 26 and 31, may have the same proportions as before, although either tab 26 or 31 may be lengthened or shortened as desired. The clip C is used in the same manner and is installed and removed in the same manner as previously described. However, the perpendicularity of leg 24 may hold the buckle bar 18 more securely against slippage along the belt when the belt is unfastened. As indicated, the angularity of legs 24, 29' may be changed as desired.

It will be noted that the belt strip S for use with a Western style buckle B is relatively wide, such as on the order of 1 /2 inches, but that for a dress belt, the width of the belt strip will be less, such as 1 inch, with which width strip S of FIGS. 7-10 may be provided for use with a dress type buckle B, with which the same clip C may be used to attach the dress buckle B to the fixed end 11 of the belt as is used to attach the Western style buckle B to the fixed end 11 of a wider belt.

The dress buckle B is primarily conventional, conveniently formed of a metal casting, generally rectangular in shape at the front and having sides 35 and ends 36, with the sides 35 being concave in front, as in FIG. 8, to space the ends 36 outwardly from the center to more readily accommodate the free end 12 of the belt. The buckle B is also provided at the center with a generally rectangular cross bar 40 which is preferably flat on both sides, to fit more snugly against both the fixed end 11 of the belt and against the land 22 of the clip C. The cross bar 40 may be cast integrally with the remainder of the buckle B, being connected to each of the respective sides 35 by a leg 41, as in FIG. 8. The buckle B is also provided with a hook 42 which, as in FIG. 9, is conveniently cast integrally with one of the ends 36 of the buckle and is adapted to engage a selected hole 16 in the free end 12' of the belt.

As before, the land 22 engages the inside of the cross bar 40, to attached the buckle B to the fixed end 1 l of the belt with the perpendicular leg 23 extending through an appropriate slot and the tab 26 engaging the outside of the fixed end of the belt. Also as before, the valley 28 abuts the inside of the fixed end of the belt, while the land 27 holds the loop 14' securely against the inside of the fixed end of the belt, with the opposite perpendicular leg 36 extending through the second slot 20 from that engaged by the leg 23, and the end tab 33 engaging the outside of the fixed end 11 of the belt, as in FIG. 9. The installation and adjustment of the clip C, to provide different belt sizes, when used with the buckle B and the belt strip S, is essentially the same as that described previously in connection with the buckle B and belt strip S. The clip C of FIG. 6 may also be substituted for the clip C.

As will be evident, the use of the clip C or C eliminates the necessity for skiving a belt at the position of the fold, as in the previous types of belts, as well as eliminating the cost of the snap fasteners previously utilized in attaching the folded portion of the fixed end of the belt thereto. The holes 16, in the free end of the belt, are, of course, essentially unchanged, while the cost of producing the slots 20 in the fixed end of the belt is essentially no more than the cost of producing the holes for the previously used snap fasteners, since all of the slots can be punched simultaneously. Also, by the use of the same spacing between the slots 20 for each of the three preferred sizes of belts now required to be carried in stock, to accommodate belt sizes from belt size through belt size 45, the same punching mechanism may be utilized to produce the slots 20 for all of the three sizes.

Although more than one preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that other embodiments may exist and that various changes and variations may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In the combination of a buckle, a belt and a device for attaching said buckle to one end of said belt:

said buckle having an offset, transverse, inside bar;

said belt having a longitudinally spaced series of slots in said one end; and said attaching device comprising a clip having:

land means for engaging the inner side of said buckle bar;

a first leg connected to said land means for abutting one edge of said buckle bar and for extending through one of said slots;

means at the end of said first leg for restraining said leg against pulling through said one slot;

a second leg for extending through a second of said slots; and

means at the end of said second leg for restraining said second leg against pulling through said second slot. 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein:

said buckle is provided with an inside hook for engagement with one of a series of spaced holes in the opposite end of said belt, said inside hook being spaced from said offset bar.

3. In the combination of claim 1, wherein said clip is provided with:

second land means connected with said second leg for engaging a belt loop extending around said one end of said belt, said loop being adapted to receive the opposite end of said belt after passage through said buckle.

4. In the combination of claim 1, wherein said clip includes:

second land means connected with said second leg for engaging a belt loop extending around said one end of said belt and adapted to receive the opposite end of said belt, after passage through said buckle, said second land means having a greater longitudinal extent than the first said land means;

a valley disposed between said first land means and said second land means and constructed and arranged to engage the inner side of said one end of said belt; and

an inclined leg connecting each end of said valley with the adjacent ends of said first land means and said second land means.

5. In the combination of claim 4, wherein:

said clip is formed from flat metallic stock.

6. In the combination of claim 1, wherein:

said slots in said one end of said belt are longitudinally spaced apart approximately one-half the distance between said first leg and said second leg of said clip.

7. In the combination of claim 6, wherein said clip is provided with:

second land means connected with said second leg for engaging a belt loop extending around said one end of said belt, said loop being adapted to receive the opposite end of said belt after passage through said buckle. 

1. In the combination of a buckle, a belt and a device for attaching said buckle to one end of said belt: said buckle having an offset, transverse, inside bar; said belt having a longitudinally spaced series of slots in said one end; and said attaching device comprising a clip having: land means for engaging the inner side of said buckle bar; a first leg connected to said land means for abutting one edge of said buckle bar and for extending through one of said slots; means at the end of said first leg for restraining said leg against pulling through said one slot; a second leg for extending through a second of said slots; and means at the end of said second leg for restraining said second leg against pulling through said second slot.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein: said buckle is provided with an inside hook for engagement with one of a series of spaced holes in the opposite end of said belt, said inside hook being spaced from said offset bar.
 3. In the combination of claim 1, wherein said clip is provided with: second land means connected with said second leg for engaging a belt loop extending around said one end of said belt, said loop being adapted to receive the opposite end of said belt after passage through said buckle.
 4. In the combination of claim 1, wherein said clip includes: second land means connected with said second leg for engaging a belt loop extending around said one end of said belt and adapted to receive the opposite end of said belt, after passage through said buckle, said second land means having a greater longitudinal extent than the first said land means; a valley diSposed between said first land means and said second land means and constructed and arranged to engage the inner side of said one end of said belt; and an inclined leg connecting each end of said valley with the adjacent ends of said first land means and said second land means.
 5. In the combination of claim 4, wherein: said clip is formed from flat metallic stock.
 6. In the combination of claim 1, wherein: said slots in said one end of said belt are longitudinally spaced apart approximately one-half the distance between said first leg and said second leg of said clip.
 7. In the combination of claim 6, wherein said clip is provided with: second land means connected with said second leg for engaging a belt loop extending around said one end of said belt, said loop being adapted to receive the opposite end of said belt after passage through said buckle. 